June 2016
Dear Parent, Guardian and Future Band Student,
I am happy that you have chosen to enroll in our school’s beginning band program. Learning to play a band instrument is an exciting adventure which will have lasting benefits throughout life. Today our current band 7 has visited and performed for the school your child attends. It’s my hope that you and your child can discuss which instrument they would like to play.
I am suggesting studentswho don’t know what they would like to play, together with you, go to “You Tube” and type in for example: flute demonstration, clarinet demonstration, trumpet demonstration, trombone demonstration, bass guitar demonstration, bells demonstration. Percussion, (drums) starts with playing the bells here at Mt. Slesse. Once your son/daughter knows which of these instruments they would like to learn play, please email me their choiceby June 17th. My email for this purpose is: or I need to order the book for the instrument your child would like to learn by June 22. That way the book will be here at the start of the school year. *Please note that 6 string guitar is not a band instrument and therefore is not an instrument they can learn to play in band class. The same applies to piano.
It’s very important that students begin with a quality musical equipment. Some brands of instruments have proven themselves to be very unreliable. I’ve had experience with students who have had the ability to play an instrument, but have quit the program because they were always “fighting” with an instrument that would not respond as it should. A poor quality instrument will not play in tune, and can not be adjusted or repaired properly.I have had some experience with people buying instruments on-line and at warehouse stores. Many of these instruments have been disappointing, as the adjustments and repairs needed to make them playable were more costly than the instrument itself.
There are many brands of instruments which have been used by musicians for years, and have proven themselves to be reliable, play in tune, and can be repaired easily. To make it easier for a parent who is not that familiar with band instruments, I have put together a list of reliable brands of instruments. If you have an instrument that a family member used, and is a brand name not on the list, please bring this instrument to Kings Music here inChilliwack or Abbotsford, or to me at Mt. Slesse so that one of us can check to see that it is in playable condition.
Your best bet is to buy or rent a quality instrument from a reputable music store, whose staff are trained as musicians and/or educators. Try to meet the repair technician at the store and get an instrument evaluated before buying. That way, you’ll be doing everything you can to make sure your child’s experience playing a band instrumentis the bestit can be.
I have several attachments from Kings Music for you to look over. Getting an instrument secured for the fall or even summer is very easy to do by visiting their secure website or visiting one of their two stores.
Best regards for a wonderful summer,
Dale Dueckman
PS
*If the cost of an instrument is something that would keep your child out of band I want you to know that I have select instruments here at Mount Slesse that I am authorized to rent out at a cost to suit ability to pay. These instruments are always a rental and never a rent to own. If you fit into this category you can communicate directly with me here at Mount Slesse or via my email or